The Integration of Society in Latvia
In March 1998, the Cabinet of Ministers established a Government Working Group for development of a National Integration Programme (NIP). Following that, an expert group was called together to draft the Conceptual Framework Document (CFD) of the National Integration Programme for approval by the Cabinet. The principal motivation behind the government's initiative was to act on the results of the "Towards a Civil Society" survey in an effort to stimulate the integration of Latvia's society through a broad, coordinated and coherent multi-sectoral national strategy. The Conceptual Framework Document seeks to lay out the general principles of integration and provide an analysis of the issues most directly affecting integration within the various substantive areas (education, culture, language, civil society, media, etc.).
In September 1998, the Cabinet of Ministers approved in principle the Conceptual Framework Document drafted by the expert group. At the same time, the Cabinet affirmed the need for a broad public discussion of the Conceptual Framework Document in order to gain the public's input to the principles and analysis set forth in the Document. Upon completion of the public discussion process, a revised Document will be submitted to the Cabinet for approval and, possibly, subsequent ratification by the Saeime (the Parliament). It is on the basis of this revised document that the National Integration Programme shall be developed.
The new Cabinet of Ministers, formed as a result of the 7th Saeima elections held in October 1998, reaffirmed the previous Government's commitment to the development and implementation of the National Integration Programme, and established a National Integration Council consisting of four ministers: the Minister of Education and Science, the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Welfare, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Council is ultimately responsible for the final product - the National Integration Programme. The Council has established, and the Cabinet of Ministers has approved, a Management Group led by the Director of the Naturalization Board for the purpose of organizing a broad public discussion of the Conceptual Framework Document, as well as for coordination of the development of the actual Programme.
The Government has expressed its commitment to the implementation of the National Integration Programme by commissioning a highly participatory public discussion process and allocating financial resources for development of the Programme and organizing the public discussion.
The process of development of the National Integration Programme consists of three phases:
- Phase I - development of the Conceptual Framework Document of the National Integration Programme (completed in September 1998)
- Phase II - public discussion and subsequent revision of the Conceptual Framework Document - to be submitted for approval by the Cabinet of Ministers by 5 August 1999
- Phase III - development of the National Integration Programme - to be submitted for approval by the Cabinet of Ministers by 15 December 1999
The public discussion process was launched on 10 March 1998 by the Prime Minister, Mr. Vilis Kristopans. Mr. Kristopans, Mr. Jânis Gaigals, Minister of Education and Science, and Ms. Aldermane, Director of the Naturalization Board, informed the society of the government's intentions in regard to the National Integration Programme, and, provided detailed information on the planned proceedings of the public discussion process, comment submission and feedback collection mechanisms, as well as ways to access the Document
Phase II is supported from a number of sources of funds. Firstly, a number of government institutions (or institutions implementing government programmes), such as the Cabinet of Ministers, the Ministry of Education, the Naturalization Board, the Latvian Language Programme Unit, the Ministry of Culture and the National Radio and Television Council are contributing to the public discussion process from their 1999 budget.
Secondly, the Government is allocating additional resources to support the public discussion process and revision of the Conceptual Framework Document.
Thirdly, the European Commission is providing funding to Phase II through a direct agreement with the Naturalization Board, and, finally, United Nations Development Programme is supporting Phase II with a significant contribution.